Improvement in lock-faucets



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARION F. SEWARD, OF BANDERA, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD HIS RIGHT TOLEONARD H. CHERRY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCK-FAUCETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,624, dated June 4,1878 application filed November 27, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARION F. SEWARD, of Bandera, in the county ofBandera and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Lock-Faucets, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inlock-faucets wherein the cock or plug can be locked to close the faucetor readily unlocked to permit the plug to be turned to opencommunication through the faucet.

My invention has for its object to furnish a cheap, convenient, and veryefficient lock-faucet; and to this end my invention consists in a faucethaving on its upper side a chamber, within which are pivoted two jawsacted on by springs, and adapted to engage recesses formed in oppositesides of the plug, said chamber being covered by a plate having akey-hole, in which can be inserted a key havingon its shank two lugs orprojections ar ranged diametrically opposite to each other, in suchmanner that when the key is turned the pivoted arms will be forced apartand their free ends disengaged from the recesses in the plug, when thelatter can be turned to open communication through the faucet; but whenthe plug is turned to close the faucet and the key withdrawn, thespring-arms will automatically enter the recesses in the plug, andthereby prevent the same from being turned; and hence unauthorizedpersons are prevented from opening communication through the faucet andpurloining the contents of the cask or barrel to which the faucet isapplied.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention; Fig. 2,a top View with the covering-plate removed; Fig. 3, a detached view ofthe plug or valve, and Fig. 4 a detached view of the key.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A represents a faucet, whichmay be of any approved construction, and 13 represents an elongatedchamber, secured to the upper part of the faucet over the verticalpassage for the plug 0. This chamber, in the present instance, consistsof a metallic case attached to the faucet; but it will, of course, beevident that this chamber may be cast integral with the body of thefaucet.

D D represent two arms pivoted at one end to the front portion of thechamber, and their rear free ends are constructed with laterallybentlugs a a, which lie immediately over the center of the vertical passagefor the plug when the latter is removed.

The plug 0 is of the usual form, and is, moreover, constructed with tworecesses, b b, arranged directly opposite to each other, and into whichthe lugs a on the pivoted arms are adapted to engage when the plug isturned to close the faucet.

The pivoted arms D are acted on by any suitable springs c, to force thefree ends of the arms toward each other, so asto automatically engagethe recesses b in the plug.

E represents a cap-plate, which covers the chamber B, and is providedwith a rim around one end, which sets within the chamber and serves toretain the cap in place, and said plate is also provided with anelongated keyhole, 01, running in the direction of the length of thechamber.

F represents a key, the shank of which is constructed with twoprojections, e 6, arranged diametrically opposite each other, in suchmanner that when the key is inserted and turned its projections act onthe arms D, to force their free ends apart and thus release the plug,when the latter can be turned to open communication through but as soonas the plug is turned to close the faucet and the key withdrawn, thefree ends of the pivoted arms will automatically engage the recesses inthe plug and prevent its being turned, thereby preventing unauthorizedpersons from opening communication through the faucet and purloining thecontents of the cask or barrel.

The front portion of the chamber is provided with an opening, f, for thepurpose of draining the chamber of any liquid which should pass into it.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In afancet, the combination, with the plug having recesses in its sides,of the spring-impelled pivoted arms, constructed to engage said recessesat their free ends, and adapted to be operated by a key to force thefree ends of the arms from the recesses in the plug, all substantiallyas and for the object set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand inthe presence ot the subscribing witnesses.

MARION F. SEYVARI).

\Yitnesses:

L. H. CHERRY, F. B. MEARS.

